[NLRS] Jan Contest from EN37ed

[Bill Davis Jr]

GM All

   With the increased use of 144.200 as an operating frequency, the contests have become more and more
difficult to operate. Those of us outside the "metro ring" are resorted to calling/ listening elsewhere since
listening to 144.200 will now yield mostly one side of a QSO from a  limited number of stations. Now
200 has become only an occasional useful calling frequency here. I do not feel comfortable calling CQ with
any power level for more than a very few min on any band/frequency due to my neighbors miserable
TV preamp and it's 300ohn twinline feed. This contest I tried to use 205 and 210 as a secondary calling
frequency, hoping that it would be close enough to 200 to be tuned across. The downside side (I'm sure) is the
level of QRM in the metro area even on these frequencies. So my QSO's now must come from occasional CQs and hearing/seeing others. With the obvious lack of stations operating the contest, there sure were fewer stations to hear/see. I CAN still use 200 as a calling frequency when looking E/W, since the metro area is then in a null.

   This was the poorest Jan contest result for me since since Jan 2002! (Back then I only had 4 bands instead of 7!)
Some of this was conditions, but some of it was also the lack of activity and operating procedures. I MUST remember too that the lack of 6m Es is a major factor as well. That has been very obvious the last two Jan contests. The absence or rovers within range had a profound effect upon not only the number of QSOs but also
a greatly reduced number of grids/QSOs on freq above 432.

   I operated "continious" from the start of the contest until 2:30am -- then 6:15am to 9:30pm. Sunday I walked
away from the radio several times, due to the lack of activity. Sunday morning even with considerable calling I 
would only find a station or two an hour. Not very rewarding.   

   Basic Results:

   6m  -- 33 QSOs  -- 16 grids
   2m  -- 40 QSOs  -- 15 grids
  222  -- 12 QSOs  --   8 grids
  432  -- 13 QSOs  --   8 grids
  902  --   1 QSO   --   1 grid
1296  --   3 QSOs  --   3 grids
10Ghz  -   0 QSOs  --   0 grids

------------------------------
           102 QSOs  --  51 grids   7,089points


     Highlights include my fortune of catching NT0V, W0PHD, K0MVJ, KC0KVD, KI0LE, N0UY, K0KP, KG0VL/M
KC0LBS and KB0CIM for some nice "northern contest QSOs". I even had the pleasure of a nice ragchew will Wally
and Bryce. Missing among others, VE3KRP, W0ANH, K0JO, VE4MA or any Winnepeg activity. Nice signals on 432
Saturday from several of these fellows.

     Low points .... for whatever reason .. Gary W0GHZ and I conuldn't even "see" each other on 10ghz, much
less have a QSO.. unreal ... only the second contest in 4yrs that we have not been able to work. No QSO
with N0JCF on 1296 or 902. I could see Chris on 902 and 1206 but only hear him on 902. He was unable to hear
me on either band. Booo  Hissss. Never worked Bob K2DRH on anything above 2m. Worked him Saturday on 6&2
with no problem (well, on my end) Missing a couple of "real locals" on 6,2,432 ..... Rats. Very few Wisconson
Valley stations worked. (All antennas toward Bruce?) Never copied a single station on 144.240. I could hear
some activity from time to time, but that was it. (Off back corner of WS antennas?). Missing lots of "regulars".
Only worked Glen KC0IYT/R in EN34, that was the "end" of the rover QSOs.

   SO  .... wish I had a better report and score, but we do what we can do .. June "has to be better", RIGHT??

73 Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed

  
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